The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has asked all maize millers, processors and dealers to adhere to all quality standards or face closure.
According to the UNBS Executive Director, Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru, they have been sensitizing maize millers, processors and dealers in different parts of the country over the last one (1) year about the quality standards and now there will be no excuse over non-compliance.
Mr. Ebiru said the enforcements of the standards became necessary following reported incidences of high levels of aflatoxins in maize grain which was putting the health and safety of consumers at risk both on the domestic and exports markets.
The following Mandatory Standards must be complied with; US EAS 2:2017, Maize grains — Specification (2nd Edition); US EAS 44:2019, Milled maize (corn) products — Specification (4th Edition) and US EAS 782:2019 Composite flour – Specification.
Others are US EAS 768:2019 Fortified milled maize (corn) products – Specification and US 28 EAS 39:2002 Code of practice for hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry
Furthermore, they should ensure that the business premises, the maize milling equipment and stores are regularly cleaned and the cleaning records are well kept, as required by the Uganda standards.
The millers are also to ensure that there is no foreign matter like stones, wooden particles, hair or nails in the flour and avail magnets to get rid of metal that could have contaminated the maize flour during the milling process.
They have also been advised to avoid storing maize or maize flour directly on the floor.
“Store it on pallets to avoid contact with damp floors that could lead to Moulds and Aflatoxin contamination of maize and maize flour,” UNBS urges.
It is also advised to avoid using unacceptable pest control methods like spraying with pesticides and insecticides which contaminates the maize flour. Cats too leave fur behind, which contaminates the flour so they should be avoided, according to UNBS.
“Make use of traditional rat traps and acceptable pest control methods that do not contaminate the flour in the stores,” UNBS warns
All millers are asked to have evidence of internal and external product testing, record keeping and maintenance.
They are also supposed to ensure that workers are fully dressed in Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during the production process. The workers should be availed with changing rooms, good quality restrooms that are cleaned regularly and cleaning records well-kept as well as necessary training required for quality work, as required by the standards.
Regular medical check-ups of the workers MUST be done and health records kept as required by the standards.
The processors are also to ensure proper packaging and labelling of finished products.
“Product Labels should have the brand name, date of manufacture, Expiry date/ sell by date, Name of manufacturer, Address of manufacturer, storage instructions, Instructions for use, size and net weight of the products,” UNBS states.
“Avoid packing maize and maize flour in packaging that is not yours. Deceptive labelling is an offence, punishable by law. Ensure that the facility has a valid UNBS certification status,” it adds.
After expiry of the notice period to the maize millers, processors and dealers, UNBS says it has commenced nationwide enforcements of compliance to the above Standards in the Central and Eastern Regions of Country.
According to UNBS, this has resulted in a number of Maize Mills being sealed off, including 25 in Luweero District and 24 Maize Mills in Jinja District due to poor hygiene and working conditions contrary to the requirements of the Quality Standards.
“The owners of these facilities have been asked to take corrective action, including applying for UNBS certification before they can be allowed to resume their operations,” UNBS says.
According to Mr. Ebiru, the Bureau has so far certified a total of 96 Millers with 113 Maize Products comprising of 95 permits for Maize Flour, 1 for Maize Grit, 7 Fortified Maize Flour and 10 for Maize Grain.
He adds that there are also 208 other Applications at different stages of the certification process. This number is expected to increase further as UNBS intensifies its enforcement operations, he says.
He says applications for UNBS Certification can be done online at https://cims.unbs.go.ug and applicants must have a valid email address, Tax Identification Number (TIN) from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Product Labels/Markings, Certificate of Business Registration from Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and the Production Process Flow Chart or Production Process Description.
Applicants can also physically visit UNBS offices at Bweyogerere, Mbale, Gulu and Mbarara with the above requirements and our staff will help them to apply for certification.